Chapter 28

Rachel POV

Backstage at The Late Late Show

"Is everything okay in there?"

"Everything is fine. We're discussing Rachel's travel itinerary."

I realized I had to go along with whatever Tyler said at this point. I echoed his sentiments with a murmured response which seemed to satisfy the staffer who'd come to investigate things.

They left. That meant they were satisfied, right?

I didn't know what was happening in my world. I had thought I was getting a fresh start with Nathan Lewis, with my music, with my life. Now Tyler Wright was thrusting himself back into the mix as a potential suitor, a possible mate, and an employer? Was he threatening me?

I couldn't gauge his intentions. I had never understood the decisions Tyler made at Moonrise Entertainment because he'd made it very obvious he didn't want to discuss his business with me.

There had always been a vast divide between Tyler Wright as the world knew him and the man who came home to me.

I'd never figured out who Tyler was or what he was really about. All I'd learned was he took his business seriously. There weren't big deals versus little deals to him. Every deal was treated as being important which made him fierce in the entertainment industry.

"Will I need to keep up with my travel itinerary? Are you telling me you're going to get my shows canceled? Be blunt with me, Tyler. I can take it."

"What kind of man do you think I am?"

I didn't know what kind of man Tyler Wright was---how could he think I understood him after three years of tension, silence, and communications which consisted entirely of physical encounters?

"I don't know. You're pushing this mating on me even after agreeing to the rejection ceremony. You're saying because you want to be happy. You haven't said anything about whether or not you care if I'm happy."

"You're a good investment. I'm not shutting you down. We invested in the film because it's going to be a hit and Moonrise Entertainment makes hit movies. The producers are making a mistake considering changing the soundtrack because it's your music which is going to push this film to the top of the box office. It'll be your music people will go to the theater to experience. It'll be your music on the radio driving people to buy tickets over and over again."

I didn't know what to say.

Tyler hadn't given me such a long speech in our whole relationship. He'd never been generous with his praise. I felt flattered to think he was so sure about the potential success of my song. I knew he was too serious as a businessman to invest without fully believing in the project.

"Thank you."

I felt the thanks was a weak response, but it was how I honestly felt. Tyler and I might have a chance to develop a relationship for our child if we were more honest with each other.

I wanted our child to have parents who could communicate freely. I'd grown up in what was essentially a single parent household since my mother had died when I was young. Patrick hadn't been much of a father which had left me and my brother floundering on our own.

Of course I wanted my child to have a better upbringing than I'd had myself.

"Don't thank me. I'm not trying to flatter you. I'm just telling you the truth from a business standpoint. I'll protect your interests in the film because it will protect my investment in the film. We'll both benefit from this movie's success."

"So will our baby," I pointed out.

"Yes," Tyler agreed, "I suppose the child will benefit too. Are you going to take me before the Alpha Council for the child's care?"

" I thought about asking for half your assets to ensure our child doesn't want for anything."

I felt ashamed as I admitted I had considered appealing for part of Tyler's assets to support our child. i hadn't been employed though and I had no savings. There was no safety net in my bank account for me to rely on if my music didn't do well.

House Wright would support a child if I applied the baby as a potential heir to Tyler's bloodline. I knew they had the money to support a legitimate heir. I also knew the amount of fear Tyler had for a child to be used as a pawn in the bloodline games Alpha Houses played.

The worst thing I could do in his eyes would be to apply this child as a potential heir and place it into the hands of his father for potential matchmaking or future alliances.

"Now you don't want my money?"

"No. I want to earn my own money. I want this baby for myself. You didn't ask for a child. Neither did I, though I'm sure you won't believe that, but I do want this child and I will do whatever I have to do to support him or her myself."

Nathan touched my arm gently, "I'm here, too. If you need anything at all, you should know I pledge House Lewis will support you. Your family may be an omega house, but we don't discriminate. You're welcome to come under our protection with Full Moon Pack as your home pack."

I reached for his hand to give it a grateful squeeze and ignored the growl Tyler let out in response.

"Thank you, Nathan."

"Your house has never pledged to join Moonrise Pack. We would have taken your family under our umbrella if you'd applied for recognition. Patrick doesn't want to be part of a pack. He doesn't want to tithe. That's the truth there."

"There's no need to be nasty, Wright."

I stepped forward to put myself between Tyler and Nathan again. I felt certain they were both under control. No one was going to hurt me. I felt slightly embarrassed I'd shown fear to Tyler before earlier by hiding behind Nathan.

Tyler had his faults, but he wasn't an abuser.

"He's only telling the truth, Nathan. I do think I will discuss with Ethan the future of our personal house though. We need to declare for a pack now I have a baby on the way."

Nathan was taking the idea of me carrying another man's child very well. I hadn't discussed my pregnancy with him prior to this. I wanted to get him alone to ask how he really felt about it.

I also didn't want to know at the same time. What if Nathan didn't want to support me anymore? An unmated pregnancy was not as accepted among werewolf society as it was in human society.

"You and your child will be welcomed to Full Moon Pack. I guarantee it as future Alpha."

"You can't declare my child for Full Moon Pack without my approval."

I didn't want to get into this discussion with Tyler or Nathan. There was too much going on. I was tired and sore from performing and traveling. I wanted to get out of this studio, take my heels off, and drink something to soothe my stomach.

"We'll worry about who I declare for later. Is there anything else tonight, Tyler?"

"I want to see you again. When are you willing to meet me?"

My schedule was being maintained mostly by my agent. Howard kept track of everything far better than I could. I took my phone out and opened my calendar to stare at it blankly.

"I don't know, Tyler. I can't think right now. Can I go over my schedule and text you with options?"

"Call me. I don't take appointments through texts."

I nodded wearily, "Yes, Tyler. I'll call you."

"Fine. I'll wait for your call."

Tyler left with his back so straight I wondered how he was able to walk. He was clearly furious. I wasn't sure if he was angry with me or Nathan or both. All I knew was I had agreed to let him back into my life after I'd finally gotten him out of it---and I wasn't sure I was upset about giving him another chance.

Nathan turned to me and took both my hands in his, rubbing his thumbs over my knuckles, "Are you alright? He didn't frighten you, did he?"

No. I wasn't alright.

Yes, I had been frightened.

I was still frightened.

My life was so uncertain.

"I'm going to be fine. Thank you for your support. You know I would understand if you wanted to back out now? I didn't mean to hide my pregnancy. I just haven't been announcing it."

Nathan shook his head, "No, you don't owe me any explanations. I'm happy you're happy. You are going to make a wonderful mother. I'm sure of it. Just as sure as I am I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Rachel. Is that okay to tell you now?"

It was overwhelming, in all honesty, but I was grateful Nathan was upfront with his desires.

"It's okay to tell me that as long as you understand I don't know what I want to do with the rest of my life---"

"It's okay. We'll work on it. Together."

I felt gratitude toward him for his understanding and I accepted a hug from him gratefully. I didn't know what was going to happen next, but I did know we had a plane to catch.

"Let's get out of here before we're left at the gate! We have to be on the plane in under an hour to get back to town."

Nathan escorted me to the cab and I tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other without tripping as the reporters snapped dozens of photos of us leaving the studio.

I bet Tyler wasn't going to like seeing Nathan escorting me in public, but it served him right, didn't it? I'd seen plenty of photos of him with models like Jenny.

A little jealousy could do him some good...